The Human Capital Foundation (HCF), an international charitable organization that provides direct assistance programs to help AIDS orphans and children living in extreme poverty in developing countries, today announced progress in its efforts to help AIDS orphans in Ethiopia.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) August 18, 2006 — The Human Capital Foundation (HCF), an international charitable organization that provides direct assistance programs to help AIDS orphans and children living in extreme poverty in developing countries, today announced progress in its efforts to help AIDS orphans in Ethiopia.

The Human Capital Foundation's first project in Ethiopia was the Selamta (be at peace) Project, which includes a children's home, sponsorship and reunification programs, a clinic, and the creation of small group homes to accommodate the growing number of AIDS orphans. The Selamta Children's Center is now home to 23 children, ages 4 to 13.

As part of ongoing efforts to support Selamta, a team of 22 volunteers traveled last month to Ethiopia. This group of high school, college students and adults worked hard on projects to create a positive, stable environment for children whose lives have been devastated by AIDS. As importantly, volunteers created strong relationships and built friendships and emotional bonds with the children of Selamta.

While in Addis Ababa, HCF volunteers also provided assistance to AHOPE For Children, an organization that helps HIV+ children in Africa. Volunteers helped renovate a building in derelict condition, creating clean, welcoming living space for children in need.

In less than a year, the Human Capital Foundation has made progress in its goal to provide assistance to children in Africa. "We started a year ago October, and we eventually plan to reach out to hundreds and hundreds of children," said Carol Foster, HCF's Executive Director.

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies underwrites operating expenses and donates 10 percent of membership fees to support the Human Capital Foundation.

Foster indicates financial and volunteer support are essential to HCF's success, but she also points to another factor. "I can't believe the resiliency of these children," she said.

Questions about the Selmata Project and other Human Capital Foundation efforts in Ethiopia, including how organizations can provide assistance, should be directed to e-mail protected from spam bots

ABOUT THE HUMAN CAPITAL FOUNDATION
The Human Capital Foundation is committed to providing assistance to those least able to cope, in those countries most severely impacted by AIDS and extreme poverty. Its programs help AIDS orphans, HIV-infected and vulnerable children regain stability, health, and the love of a lifetime family. The Foundation's objective is to transform those in greatest need today into a fabric of confident, educated young people who can contribute to the social and economic needs of their nations tomorrow. Recognizing that many of the world's most strategic third world regions face worsening social and economic challenges that threaten their viability in the coming decades, the Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, underwrites operating expenses and donates 10 percent of membership fees to support the Human Capital Foundation. For more information, including volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.humancapitalfoundation.org

PRESS CONTACTS
Human Capital Institute
Andrea Miller
866-538-1909

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The capital of Ethiopia was founded in 1887. Addis Ababa is the capital, the commercial and political capital of the African nation of Ethiopia. Over three million people live in Addis Ababa at last count, making it a very populated city. It is the largest city in Ethiopia and holds the Federal Government of Ethiopia seat. There are also various embassies, dignitaries, and other organizations involving regional government, international organizations, non-governmental agencies and other organizations such as the Economic Commission for Africa or the Organization of African Unity. The capital of Ethiopia is an important hub for organizations of the world to touch Africa.

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is also the capital of the African Union. The African Union is an organization that consists of about 53 African states and was formed in 2001 to serve as a predecessor to the African Economic Community and the Organization of African Unity. One of the many goals of the African Union is to have a single currency and a single defence force that will be integrated through the capital of Ethiopia. The purpose of the union is to secure Africa’s rights on a global scale and to bring an end to inter-Africa conflict that causes problems within and between the states of the continent.

The Other Factors And Features

It is considered widely by most census takers and information collectors that one hundred percent of the people in the capital of Ethiopia are urban dwellers. This is because there are no rural areas in Addis Ababa to speak of. The census also reports that there is slightly more women than men in Addis Ababa, although the difference is quite small at around one hundred thousand more women than men. The city has an estimated population density of around five thousand people for every square mile. This can create quite crowded conditions on the streets.

A large majority of people in Addis Ababa are Christians, at around 82%. Twelve percent of people in the capital of Ethiopia are Muslims and the rest are followers of other religions including Hinduism and Judaism. Almost all ethnic groups are represented in Addis Ababa because of its position as the capital of Ethiopia. There are many farmers in Addis Ababa that contribute a lot of their crops and their animals to the overall storehouse projects. They are continual contributors to the economy of the city as a whole.

The world of international music can be fascinating in its complexity and enjoyable in the adventurous nature of the music on the whole. The music of Africa is especially appreciated for this reason and Ethiopia music is among the finest out there. Considered a musically traditional country, the music of Ethiopia is very diverse and varied. Some forms of the tribal Ethiopia music are influenced by religious beliefs from Islam while other forms take their influence from a lot of the folk music in the area.  Ancient music from Ethiopia also has a distinctive Christian element that is related to their descent from Yared, a man who lived during the reign of Gabra Masqal.

 With such an extensive and influential history, it’s no wonder that Ethiopia music remains to be diverse and popular. Throughout recent history, before the 1990s, Ethiopia went through a period in its history that was especially hard on the people. This included a siege of floods and famines that overtook the land and cost many lives. This part of the history of Ethiopia has helped to shape the land into what it is now and influenced the people in many ways. The country is currently in the middle of a rebuilding process, however, and is starting to re-establish some of their infrastructure to create a way of life for the people. This, of course, also influences the musical expression of Ethiopians.

The Continual Influence Of History

Music, because of the changes made in the last decade or two, has become more accessible outside of Ethiopia’s major city, Addis Ababa. Before the changes to the structure of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa was the major cultural center of Ethiopia music and held much of the culture of the country within its borders. Since then, music has grown throughout the land again and people are practicing all sorts of new styles and flavors of music in their villages and towns.  The music of Ethiopia uses a unique system that is known as the modal system.

The modal system, as used in Ethiopia music, is a style of music that has long intervals between notes. This leads to an often unfinished and spontaneous feel to the music that creates an atmosphere of anticipation as to what will come next. The modal system is well suited to the instrument most often used in Ethiopia music, the “krar”. The krar is a five or six stringed lyre type instrument with a pentatonic scale that is used much the sale way as a standard guitar or violin.